NYRB to carefully treat ex-Arsenal ace Henry in 2014

The former Arsenal and Barcelona star will be a key part of the Red Bulls squad that contests Major League Soccer, the CONCACAF Champions League and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 2014 prompting Petke to suggest that the 36-year old may need to be used cleverly throughout the campaign.

"He definitely falls into a category of somebody I need to sit down with and figure things out for all the competitions we have next year and all that travel that's going to entail," Petke told the NY Post. "This year was very tough for me to take him off the field because of what he brings.

"Thierry is our captain and he's by far one of the, if not the best players in this league in his best moments.

"We have him next year. He's still under contract, (and) we're thrilled to have him back. He's been re-energized and refocused, and I think Thierry is and perhaps will be until he's gone the focal point of this team, because what he can bring at any given moment."